With major hurricane looming, is federal aid in doubt?

storm

Hurricane Irene, now a Category 3 storm, is headed up the Eastern Seaboard, threatening considerable damage and loss of life.

As the Weather Channel puts it, “this is a particularly threatening situation … computer models are currently trending toward a forecast solution of rare potency for portions of the Northeast. … Irene has the potential to be a serious and multi-hazard threat for the major metropolitan areas of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. This includes Norfolk, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, Hartford, and Boston.”

At this stage, Irene is predicted to still be a Category 2 storm, with winds of 100 mph, by the time it hits the Washington, D.C. area sometime Sunday morning. A storm that big, hitting a handful of the nation’s densest urban areas almost simultaneously in a region not conditioned to hurricanes, has the potential to be a major disaster, requiring a full-out response by local, state and federal officials.

Or, maybe not.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, for example, has consistently argued that any appropriation for emergency relief must be offset by spending cuts elsewhere in the budget. With a major hurricane headed Virginia’s way, his office confirms has already announced that remains his position. And as we all already know, raising taxes to make the spending revenue-neutral won’t be an option either.

That approach is consistent with what Mitt Romney said back in June, in a GOP debate held shortly after tornadoes had destroyed much of Joplin, Missouri.

In a response to a question from John King, Romney said he would oppose federal disaster aid that would increase the deficit, proposing instead to leave that duty to the states. Given the chance by King to back off that position regarding relief operations in a major natural disaster, Romney refused, reiterating that we simply can’t afford it:

We cannot — we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids. It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we’ll all be dead and gone before it’s paid off. It makes no sense at all.”

There is, I suppose, a certain consistency in that position. As the argument goes, the words “hurricane”, “disaster” and even “storm” appear nowhere in the Constitution. In fact, under the conservative, states’ rights interpretation of the 10th Amendment so favored by Cantor, Rick Perry and others, it might even be unconstitutional for the federal government to respond to such a disaster.

While liberals might try to cite language in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to “provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States,” conservatives have made it pretty clear that the provision in question doesn’t apply in such matters.

As the Heritage Foundation helpfully explains in its guide to the Constitution prepared for members of Congress, “spending under the clause (must) be for the ‘general’ (that is, national) welfare and not for purely local or regional benefit.”

It goes on to quote James Madison to that same effect, arguing that congressional spending power is limited “to purposes of common defence, and of general, national, not local, or state, benefit.” It further notes that “the Fourth Congress did not believe it had the power to provide relief to the citizens of Savannah, Georgia, after a devastating fire destroyed the entire city.”

In this case, Hurricane Irene is projected to wreak havoc from North Carolina all the way north through Virginia and Maryland and on up into Massachusetts. While that comprises most, but not all, of the 13 original colonies, it doesn’t affect states such as California, Oregon, Iowa and even Georgia, not to mention Hawaii and Alaska.

In other words, sorry Eastern Seaboard. You’re on your own. Let us know how it all turns out for you.

– Jay Bookman

NOTE: This post has been edited slightly since the orginal posting.

354 comments Add your comment

Paul

August 25th, 2011
6:52 pm

Dusty

Smear? Smear?!!? As in an unsubstantiated charge against someone?

Silly me, I thought Jay merely cited the number-two House Republican’s past firm position and wondered if it would hold when it affects his district. Then he cited Eric’s own office to demonstrate, no, the rhumba has begun.

“Should never mention such things. Just spend.”

Why Dusty!! Gasp!!! Are you….. are you…. a……a…… RINO?!!?!!!!?

Message from Matti

August 25th, 2011
6:53 pm

josef,

Breathe, Hon, and try to remember that the Snarknasties here do not represent all of America. They’re nothing without their contempt for the less fortunate and their worship of the evil heroes they’ll never be. How sad for them, but we don’t have to be like that.

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
6:53 pm

I take it everyone is in agreement that the Bush tax cuts are not in the budget. It’s long past time to get rid of them.

Paul

August 25th, 2011
6:54 pm

Doggone/GA

“How the hell did I get into this? I haven’t even addressed anything to you”

Relax. Nothing personal, I’m sure.

josef’s on a roll. Just enjoy.

F. Sinkwich

August 25th, 2011
6:54 pm

“Having laws is all well and good, but what good are those laws if they’re not enforced?”

So the FDA and the USDA are law enforcement agencies, Joe? They can arrest you?

Who knew?

poison pen

August 25th, 2011
6:54 pm

I guess as long as people on here are talking politics lets talk about Katrina. I feel sorry for those people and helped the company that my Daughter worked for with goods as I’m sure a lot of you did.

Ray Noggin oops sorry ( Nagin ) should have went to jail for his stupidity, how many times did you & I see the pictures of hundreds of school buses sitting in flooded lots that should have been used to move the people to safer grounds, Hell even the cops fled their duty.

Let’s talk for a second about another Twit, Kathleen Blanco, Governor of Louisiana, Bush begged her to declare an Emergency before Katrina and we all know how well that went when she declined his offer.

I didn’t live in Georgia when all this happened and I wonder what Jay wrote about these two idiots.

Dusty

August 25th, 2011
6:56 pm

Well, Josef, you were in New Orleans when the storm hit? You saw the Mexican Navy unloading what? Some firstaid kits and bags of rice? You credit them but not the millions spent on New Orleans by our own government?

As far as the news went, the government of New Orleans itself was the biggest failure of all. Few plans and couldn’t carry out what plans they made. Police there have been indicted for their own criminal activity. Now you can overlook the real reports while you speak of complaints but it does not change the whole picture.

There were failures in New Orleans but not because our government did not try or did not pour millions into a shattered mudhole.

Take your namecallaing and throw in the Mississippi. That’s where the mud is.

Paul

August 25th, 2011
6:57 pm

I think I have the answer to my question.

The Party Faithful would rather deflect with Katrina than address whether or not Eric, the number 2 House Republican, is being hypocritical regarding his past standards of offsets for disaster relief.

Dusty

August 25th, 2011
7:02 pm

No Paul,

I’m not a rhino. I’m a realist. I see things as they are. When I look into a microscope, I report what I see. Not what I believe someone wants to hear or tells me what I SHOULD see.

As is often said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. Maybe so. But what my eyes see is what I report, whether it is beautiful or not.

Try it sometimes.

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:04 pm

16 Georgia Counties To Receive Federal Disaster Aid; Individuals In Hardest Hit 7 Counties Also To Receive Help

April 30, 2011 13:59 pm

We cannot afford this. You people best be sending that money back right now.

El Jefe

August 25th, 2011
7:04 pm

One has to wonder why STATES do not prepare for such disasters?

As the far left leaning wackos would demand that big daddy should pay for everything and let the states off the hook, I do not agree.

Why should every tax payer pay for Florida’s disasters? Why doesn’t Florida have it’s own contingency planning and funding?

As we see in society in general, take away the incentive and you will loose your freedoms.

Take away a states duty to look after its own and the state will become lazy and let big daddy do it. FEMA has worked so well in the past (for those in mid town – that was sarcasm)

Doggone/GA

August 25th, 2011
7:05 pm

“than address whether or not Eric, the number 2 House Republican, is being hypocritical regarding his past standards of offsets for disaster relief”

Did you forget rule !00 & something? “when you can’t defend, delfect”

Paul

August 25th, 2011
7:07 pm

Dusty

“I’m not a rhino. I’m a realist. ”

It seems in today’s Republican Party, the two are exclusionary.

Regardless of reality, doctrine comes first. To go against the doctrine, regardless of circumstance, will bring down the wrath of the party power brokers.

Just look at the performance of the hand-raising Republican presidential candidates at the debates. Even given the most extreme conditions, they knew better than to go against orthodoxy.

I commend you for your realistic courage. Too bad most of those running don’t share it.

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:07 pm

Federal Disaster Relief Money Headed to Georgia, Including Flood Buy-Out Money for Cobb, Douglas Counties

1:04 AM, Jul 31, 2010

Come on now. We can’t afford this. Send the money back now.

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:12 pm

ATL-2009-36, Sept. 25, 2009

Updated 9/28/09 to include Bartow, Catoosa, Coweta, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Rockdale and Walker counties.

ATLANTA — Victims of recent severe storms and flooding in Georgia may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.
Following severe storms and flooding beginning Sept.18, the President declared Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties federal disaster areas qualifying for individual assistance.

When is this going to end. Send the money back now.

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:13 pm

GA-2008-7, March 27, 2008

ATLANTA — Victims of recent storms in Georgia may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.

Following severe storms and tornadoes beginning March 14, the federal government declared Bartow, Burke, DeKalb, Floyd, Fulton, Jefferson and Polk counties a presidential disaster area qualifying for individual assistance.

Oh come on! It’s the same old story year after year. Send the money back now.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
7:14 pm

Bosch @ 5:53

I think there’s a time to be political and there’s a time to be human. This is not a political event/happening. A human would understand that, and a d**k would not.

josef

August 25th, 2011
7:14 pm

Doggone
Your attack on me the other p.m. read just like one of Dusty’s…that’s how…

Paul

August 25th, 2011
7:14 pm

Doggone/GA

I keep forgetting that little rule….

El Jefe

“Why should every tax payer pay for Florida’s disasters? Why doesn’t Florida have it’s own contingency planning and funding?”

I’ve mentioned before. I lived in Sarasota FL when Bush the Younger was elected. It’s on the west side. Toss a rock and you hit Siesta Key and Longboat Key. Super expensive real estate (a key is a little spit of an island).

Bush gets elected, a new FEMA official comes down, gives a speech, says there’s a new administration and they’re going to do the rely on yourself thing. Noted that some of these expensive homes had been rebuilt four or five times with federal funds – including the heavily subsidized flood and storm program insurance. Said it would end. They live in a risky area and should afford to pay for the risk.

I don’t think they guy’s jet had landed in Washington before the Administration was issuing a ‘clarification’ that they’d still get their homes rebuilt and their heavily subsidized insurance rates wouldn’t change.

See, those folks on Longboat and Siesta give megabucks. Money talks.

Paul

August 25th, 2011
7:16 pm

josef

Sorry I butted in. I’ll mind my own business and stay out of the crossfire -

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:17 pm

June 27, 2011

These 22 Georgia counties were declared natural disaster areas by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsak because of sharply reduced farm production: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Chatham, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Dodge, Effingham, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Telfair, Thomas, Wayne and Wheeler.

These 26 Georgia counties were declared contiguous disaster counties: Berrien, Bleckley, Bulloch, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Echols, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Laurens, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pulaski, Screven, Tattnall, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wilcox and Worth.

Oh come on now. Not again! Send the money back now.

thewindwhistler

August 25th, 2011
7:18 pm

Let us face it, the meterological society, and all the governors and all the kingsmen(Obama) are crying wolf again. This hurricane will amount to a slight breeze, but all concerned with chaos because they will be putting in for government aid from the huge government surplus. It should be, let all concerned take care of themselves rather than Uncle Sam.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
7:20 pm

We not only always help out our neighbors but just about every other country. I doubt there is any other country in the World that is as giving as we are.

Both sides on here need to grow up.

AMEN!!!

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

August 25th, 2011
7:21 pm

Doggone
Your attack on me the other p.m. read just like one of Dusty’s…that’s how…

Well, looks like josef’s done went off of the deep end. He comes on here and cusses me out in Cherokee. Then he goes after Sister Dusty and then Doggone. The boy needs to be suspended from teaching kids till the docs check him out.

But at least I learned one more nasty thing Katrina brought us.

josef

August 25th, 2011
7:22 pm

DUSTY

Pure unadultrated self-serving and pious b*llsh*t…no, I wasn’t in New Orleans…our New Orleans people were here, we spend WEEKS trying to find out information on our people…until you find yourself spending every waking moment glued to the teevee screen trying to catch a glimpse of, hopefully, one of them…”there’s K! Thank G-d” Charity Hospital ER physician…stayed behind because it was where she belonged…call D in Jackson, let her know…get in touch with her Mama in Seattle and let her know that she’s okay…talk about something you know about…like good poetry, but don’t you come up in here trying to tell me about Katrina…

And, the Mexican ships brought in: a hospital ship, a search and rescue team (whether you know it or not, Mexico is a world leader in that area…”

AmVet

August 25th, 2011
7:22 pm

The Bronx Bombers went wild this afternoon!

The New York Yankees became the first team in major league history to hit three grand slams in a game, with Robinson Cano, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson connecting Thursday in a wet, wild 22-9 romp over the Oakland Athletics.

Niiiice.

Doggone/GA

August 25th, 2011
7:22 pm

“hurricane will amount to a slight breeze”

And how IS the pay on the Weather Channel?

BADA BING

August 25th, 2011
7:22 pm

WE have a good resource to draw on here. All the affected states should study LA and New Orleans’ preparations for Katrina, and do the OPPOSITE of what they did. Local, State, and Federal.

@@

August 25th, 2011
7:23 pm

Everybody’s words come back to bite ‘em in the a$$.

Words, just words. Can’t recall how Wyld Byll use to say it….werts, jes werts?

Bush, all by his lonesome. Now, it’s Obama, all by his lonesome.

Too funny!

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
7:24 pm

The Party Faithful would rather deflect with Katrina than address whether or not Eric, the number 2 House Republican, is being hypocritical regarding his past standards of offsets for disaster relief.

Party faithful as represented by Wonder Woman. They’ll deflect any and all incoming projectiles to save the ones they love….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtZc6CrIFzE

Dusty

August 25th, 2011
7:24 pm

Paul, once again, I am little different from many conservatives.

We sent politicians to Washington and told them to quit spending money and cut what you can because we will probably never pay what we owe. Conservatives do not believe in huge unpayable DEBTS.

So our Republican politicians are trying to “cut”. But just like this blog, their efforts are twisted and turned and the Democrats act like they never heard of the word DEBT.

Just as Cantor has suggested that expenditures must be offset with cuts. He is talking about ;future planning as far as I can tell because there has been no stoppage of help in preparing for Irene..

So what’s the “whine”? Let another emergency come without some plan for covering the expenses? I guess so since such planning is called hard hearted bastardry against human suffering. Ho hum…. what is your plan for paying for emergencies? Got any? Or just let the good checks roll out of…..an empty nowhere or China?

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:24 pm

Just look at all those disasters that our tax dollars have helped pay for. We cannot afford this, this, humanity. It’s just plain immoral to ask folks to be humane. They either are or they are not, depending on how they were born.

moonbat betty

August 25th, 2011
7:26 pm

Chill the F out. This thing will probably get blown out to sea.

And if not, obama can’t do snakesit about it.

sort of like with bush.

God’s will.

poison pen

August 25th, 2011
7:30 pm

Man O Man, Did everyone eat BITCH pills today?

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
7:30 pm

josef

Put the keyboard down, and take a walk around the block. Don’t let somebody try to tell you what you know happened in NOLA. It’s two different perspectives when you have an outsider with no connections viewing something versus someone with close connection with people and places in the line of fire.

I’ve got family along the coast of NC and VA. Right now, all I can do is hope they don’t lose all. I’ll be ready to take off and do what I can regardless to what that d**khead Cantor thinks.

poison pen

August 25th, 2011
7:31 pm

Just AA, I think most were born humane and giving.

Doggone/GA

August 25th, 2011
7:33 pm

“I’ve got family along the coast of NC and VA”

And 90% of my family is in central PA – which hopefully isn’t in the direct line, but they could still get some nasty weather if conditions warrant.

Midori

August 25th, 2011
7:35 pm

We sent politicians to Washington and told them to quit spending money and cut what you can because we will probably never pay what we owe. Conservatives do not believe in huge unpayable DEBTS.

this from someone who got such a tingle whenever Bush wasted every cent he could.

no wonder she’s so nostalgic for him.

funny – we didn’t hear all this “deficit” talk until the ceiling fights began. Prior to that it was all about JOBS……

Dusty

August 25th, 2011
7:38 pm

Well, Paul,

I posted a memo to you but it is in moderation. Hmm.. it did not take ‘em long!! Anyway, conservative Republicans do not like huge debts. That was my point now lost in the nether world.

And speaking of the nether world…. Has Josef turned into Sooth ? Both seem a bit out of this world sometimes. and seems like namecalling is no longer a NO NO here. OH well. Maybe Irene will bring a little cool air and rain to Atlanta. Not any more than that I hope.

Off to the dinery! But…THE BRAVES WON THIS AFTERNOON just like I expected. Hard to beat a great team like the Braves. McCan hit two homers! Whoopee!!

josef

August 25th, 2011
7:39 pm

josef Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Well. THAT one went into the Blue Nose’s bin of Verboten…I’ll attempt to clean it up…if this gets snagged. then I’ll figure something else is at work… :-)

August 25th, 2011
7:26 pm
PAUL

No problem…

Matti–
I DO need to breathe, but this one just “you know what” me off to the max…

Duk-sha-nee:

Okay, I’ll put it this way– “intercourse” you and the one-trick pony you rode in on…and the more of your “satire” you post directed at me, the more you confrm what a sheet-wearing “duk-sha-nee” you really are deep inside…

BROSEPHUS
Well, I probably should…but it’s hot and muggy out there… I’m just too thin-skinned and sensitive, I suppose..

hsn

August 25th, 2011
7:39 pm

Jay –

Any form of aid the government offers any victims of the disaster will be labelled “socialism” by the cons and their thuggish tbagging idiots.

Unless, the US government intends to shoot the victims.
Wars and bloodshed are the top two items that make the cons and their hack “patriotic” supporters happy!

Soothsayer

August 25th, 2011
7:41 pm

Doggone/GA

August 25th, 2011
7:42 pm

“Conservatives do not believe in huge unpayable DEBTS”

They don’t believe in them…they just DO them

Dusty

August 25th, 2011
7:43 pm

‘Sorry, Paul, seems you got double dipped . They dropped moderation on my first. Sorry for repeats.

——————————-

—Thank you, Midori, for bringing up Bush AGAIN.. I know you miss him.

Midori

August 25th, 2011
7:44 pm

Dusty – what Josef said.

Midori

August 25th, 2011
7:45 pm

p.s. – you’re very welcome.

won’t be needing that “aid” tonight, will you?

josef

August 25th, 2011
7:46 pm

F Sinkwich

What’s stopping them? No jobs and no affordable housing…and, no, I’m not talking subsidized government housing…

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
7:49 pm

I think when we get caught up in the anonymous heat of the moment, we tend to throw logic and common sense, etc., out the window and no amount of externally imposed moderation or word blockage, etc., is sufficient to deal with it. True moderation comes from within. Also, time or more specifically, the passage thereof, tends to be a great moderator in most cases. Not all though. Elephants are known to carry grudges for a lifetime while the more humbled tend to bear the crosses.

Schrodingers cat

August 25th, 2011
7:50 pm

An illogical debate about what might happen, and why it’s the other sides fault…it’s as effective as contemplating your navel….so now we have a pregame show for a natural disaster and before it happens we assigning blame….politically?…

unbelievable ..really

Jay

August 25th, 2011
7:53 pm

Ok, folks, emergency intervention upstairs ….

Recon (2nd.and 3rd.)

August 25th, 2011
7:54 pm

The people will respond and that includes faith based response. Reliance on the American people probably is more reliable than relying on a federal government that seems to become more and more dysfunctional with each passing day.

Soothsayer

August 25th, 2011
8:05 pm

New “emergency” thread posted. Trying to cool things off!

MrLiberty

August 25th, 2011
8:06 pm

If the federal, state, and local governments weren’t stealing over 50% on average of everyone’s income, there would be plenty of money around for charity. Funnelling income through the waste machine that is the government only destroys wealth. Certainly if we weren’t throwing trillions down the ratholes of Afghanistan and Iraq (well, correctly throwing it into the hands of the military industrial complex) that would also allow for more money for charity. Only RON PAUL wants to end these wars, bring the troops home, and shore up the bankrupt entitlement programs so that folks can get out from under these oppressive future prison sentences.

moonbat betty (obama hurrican czar)

August 25th, 2011
8:08 pm

Well, I think we should send Redneck Convert out in his jon boat and 9.9 h.p. outboard to save the world!

Yee haw!

josef

August 25th, 2011
8:09 pm

JAY

What are you still doing here? Aren’t you ’sposed to be on a flight to somewhere up the East Coast to get in line for the gubmint handouts? He who hesitates… :-)

Jay

August 25th, 2011
8:10 pm

Relax, Josef. I hire people to handle that for me.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
8:11 pm

The people will respond and that includes faith based response. Reliance on the American people probably is more reliable than relying on a federal government that seems to become more and more dysfunctional with each passing day.

The federal government IS the American people. The only reason it’s dysfunctional is because some people see the federal government as some foreign, alien organization as opposed to a group of fellow citizens trying to make things work for everyone.

When people remember that, maybe sanity will return to the national dialogue.

josef

August 25th, 2011
8:12 pm

JAY

Creating jobs, eh? :-)

Jay

August 25th, 2011
8:13 pm

Word, Brocephus.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
8:14 pm

Word, Brocephus.

:shock: :shock:

Jay

Been listening to V-103 lately. :)

Normal

August 25th, 2011
8:14 pm

moonbat betty (obama hurrican czar)

August 25th, 2011
8:15 pm

advice from the hurrican czar:

west coast baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI_gLtPJqWk

Bosch

August 25th, 2011
8:18 pm

What this all boils down to is the wingnuts say we can’t afford federal assistance and it should be the states doing all, but will be the first people to blame Obama for not providing assistance if that were to actually happen.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
8:19 pm

Should have included that 8:11 with this one here, but I guess it’s never too late….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhnUgAaea4M

kayaker 71

August 25th, 2011
8:20 pm

New Rasmussen pol…. only 14% of the electorate feel that we are headed in the right direction. Fully 79% feel that we are not. Wow. 79%. I would have to assume that the liberals that post on this blog, along with Bookman, are part of that 14%. With these numbers, I would be almost, no abjectly embarressed, to still support this clown. Yet we still have the stalwarts that just won’t face reality.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
8:22 pm

Bosch

I don’t see how in the hell anybody can expect the states to provide disaster relief when they can’t even provide budget relief. Things in this country have gotten so f**ked up. Maybe if corporations, such as GE, actually gave a damn about the country and paid dues to operate here, our budgets wouldn’t be so screwed up.

Then again, if politicians had not allowed the American worker’s way of making a living to be pimped out to 3rd world countries, we wouldn’t be in an economic funk now.

josef

August 25th, 2011
8:24 pm

Following St. Jay…gone upstairs…

Recon (2nd.and 3rd.)

August 25th, 2011
8:27 pm

“The federal government IS the American people. The only reason it’s dysfunctional is because some people see the federal government as some foreign, alien organization as opposed to a group of fellow citizens trying to make things work for everyone.”

“Some people”? May want to get tuned into the major polls and learn what most people see.

kayaker 71

August 25th, 2011
8:31 pm

Brocephus,

“If politicians had not allowed the American worker’s way making a living to be pimped out to 3rd world countries,etc”.

If government would just get out of the way and let corporations and especially small business have a foot up on production and hiring without all of the heavy duty regulations that hamper them, we might just entice them to come back. Without that, and with Bozo in the WH, no one will move. Business and the market hates uncertainty. I will pose to you one more time….. I will bet that if Bozo leaves the WH in 2012, unemployment will improve during the first three months and unemployment will be below 7% after the first year. Any takers?

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
8:37 pm

“Some people”? May want to get tuned into the major polls and learn what most people see.

You could have taken a poll in the early 1800’s, and the plurality would have been pro slavery. An early 1900’s poll would probably show a plurality of people were pro-segregation. When people are fed half truths and don’t know how to see things for themselves, they can only base their opinions on what they hear.

Maybe I was wrong, MOST people see the federal government…. Still doesn’t make it any better. If people don’t like it, they can always run for office or come take my job. No skin off my back. I can guarantee there aren’t too many who have the chops to do what we do, and do a good job at it.

Brosephus

August 25th, 2011
8:39 pm

kayaker

Regulations are nothing but excuses. IF regulations were the cause of such crap, why did the country flourish under Clinton. Did Clinton not enact regulations all across the board? Remember the assault weapons ban? I don’t recall this country going into a gun purchasing slump. Keep on making excuses for those individuals why they pillage the country. Once they gobble up all the vegetation and there’s nothing left to grow, it will be too late to try to rebuild things.

Recon (2nd.and 3rd.)

August 25th, 2011
8:49 pm

Liberals and in particular those on the far left are learning a tough lesson. Unfortunately, the lesson comes at the expense of Americans seeking gainful employment. The lesson is that the American private business sector is not in the welfare business. They’re in the revenue generating profit business. If the government persists in making the business climate unfriendly for investment in the United States we will continue to see foreign investment and stalled growth in our economy. The Obama administration can’t seem to understand that fact.

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
8:55 pm

Bozo’s last year in the White House was 2008. We had enough of the clowning around. That’s why we elected President Obama.

Schrodingers cat

August 25th, 2011
8:57 pm

I never doubted I was an outsider…and occasional revel in it

Rafe Hollister

August 25th, 2011
8:57 pm

I don’t think we would have to work too hard to find some cuts to offset the aid. Maybe we could start with the Stimulus financed study to find out why pigs stink. Of course if they had already purchased the pigs we might have to get creative. Maybe a BBQ for the victims.

godless heathen

August 25th, 2011
9:06 pm

New Orleans – spending billions to reset the trap.

I haven’t spent much time along the eastern seaboard but I did fly through Kennedy airport last winter. Man, those mansions on Long Island I saw on final approach were really something. If they get damaged by Irene, I’m glad to know they will get rebuilt on my dime.

godless heathen

August 25th, 2011
9:09 pm

“Remember the assault weapons ban? I don’t recall this country going into a gun purchasing slump.”

After the election of President Obama, I was talking to a gun dealer. He said, “If I’d have known how much his election was going to help my sales, I would have voted for the SOB.”

Just Another Anonymous One

August 25th, 2011
9:09 pm

Hey! There are 59 states in that list — NOT 57! So that’s why some folks have been picking on the president. He forgot about two of them. Now it makes sense.

Schrodingers cat

August 25th, 2011
9:24 pm

you and ..I …yeeee…go straight to hell .well they have BBQ and beer, better than they do have up here..and you know all the words to he songs..hey, we smoke cigarettes, we dance with the dead, we’re soft to the touch..we drink too much..and darling I think you might light like it here

EV

August 25th, 2011
9:31 pm

What you want to bet that in a war zone, Cantor would be shot by his own troops?

Schrodingers cat

August 25th, 2011
9:31 pm

1811/0311

August 25th, 2011
9:32 pm

Schrodingers cat

August 25th, 2011
9:35 pm

Thomas

August 25th, 2011
9:36 pm

Well, if it wiped out Pat Robertson’s enclave, leveled Liberty University and put Cantor’s district under a foot of water, it would sure go a long way toward resolving that whole “is there a God?” controversy.

Thulsa Doom

August 25th, 2011
9:37 pm

After the election of President Obama, I was talking to a gun dealer. He said, “If I’d have known how much his election was going to help my sales, I would have voted for the SOB.”- godless heathen

He musta been selling to all those people that Obama was deriding who “cling to their guns and bibles”.

I didn’t see it but on the news Obama had a press conference where he blamed the economic malaise on “bad luck” including the earthquake in Japan, the Arab spring, etc. Frankly that just plain sounds pathetic. I can’t fathom a U.S. president stooping to such a pathetically low level of accountability and responsibility. The blame everybody but me psychosis is alive and well with Obama.

As for the hurricane relief we all know that relief will be provided just like we all knew that a budget deal would eventually be done.

The problem here is that the democrats are so completely uncaring and indifferent to the burgeoning debt situation that the cons have to go to extreme measures to try and wake up the dems as to the seriousness of the debt situation. The Dems just don’t give a damn about getting our fiscal house in order. They really don’t. And that is a real shame.

Salad

August 25th, 2011
9:41 pm

I don’t mean any harm to Virginians, but Eric Cantor is due some major comeuppance.

Sir Dancealot

August 25th, 2011
9:43 pm

Another reason not to have a balanced budget amendment. Republicans have no grasp on governance.

ben

August 25th, 2011
9:45 pm

If the Republicans and the Tea Party hate this country so much that they’re unwilling to spend a dime to provide any sort of services and would rather be funneling all tax money to wealthy people, then why don’t these Commie bastards just leave the country for good and go somewhere where there is no government, like Somalia. What are these idiots doing running for office if they hate government and they hate this country so much???

1811/0311

August 25th, 2011
9:47 pm

Take this an be honest. You might be surprised:

http://www.selectsmart.com/president/

Thulsa Doom

August 25th, 2011
9:49 pm

Salad,

So what major comeuppance is Eric Cantor in trouble for? Because he wanted to balance the budget before we go completely bust? So one of the few people who wants us to actually live within our means and not go into bankruptcy 10 years down the road is the bad guy? Only in liberal bizarro world is the lone voice of fiscal sanity the bad guy.

1811/0311

August 25th, 2011
9:51 pm

Headline: “More Cracks Found in Washington Monument”

Symbolic of our Republic at the very least ……………………

1811/0311

August 25th, 2011
9:52 pm

This is where unfettered liberalism takes society:

Headline: “Paving the Way for Condoning Child Rape”

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/08/25/paving-way-for-condoning-child-rape/?test=latestnews

rightwingextreme

August 25th, 2011
9:54 pm

WHY IRENE WON’T BE KATRINA: NO GOVENOR BLANCO…..NO MAYOR RAY “SCHOOL BUS” NAGAN…..NO NINTH WARD MENTALITY.

1811/0311

August 25th, 2011
9:57 pm

JUDICIAL WATCH !

“Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit over the federal government’s refusal to disclose how much taxpayers spent to send Michelle Obama on a “family outing” that included a safari in Africa.

How much did the American people spend to send the First Lady on a family outing in Africa? That’s what we want to know,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “On the surface, the trip seems to have been totally unnecessary and was as much an excuse for the Obama family to go on a safari as it was a mission intended to advance the nation’s business in Africa.”

Jolly

August 25th, 2011
9:57 pm

Cantor’s pushing for the title of biggest douchebag ever.

Fred

August 25th, 2011
10:05 pm

Brocephus@ 8:19;
F…….. I mean HECK YEAH.

Great tune, thanks. Got is saved in my outlaws category. You should check out my fav’s sometime. Bubba2112 on youtube. I’m always adding songs……..

Zrade

August 25th, 2011
10:12 pm

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/25/rick-perry-texas-life-insurance-scheme_n_935666.html

I took out a 90 day policy on the death of Perry’s campaign, I think I will have to revise that to 0 days, might have to revise that again, his campaign is dying fast.

Hardie

August 25th, 2011
10:14 pm

Rick Perry is Dubya Dubya II.

independent

August 25th, 2011
10:25 pm

Should there be significant damage, Harry Reid should call the Senate back to DC to vote on a bill to provide emergency funding for the states and localities needing assistance. Let the Republicans go on record opposing federal assistance.

givememyfairshare

August 25th, 2011
10:40 pm

It’s Bush’s hurricane machine causing all this trouble